Are you noticing an influx of spiders and cobwebs in your home?
Many species are generally harmless and avoid human contact, while others can leave itchy (and sometimes painful) bites on the skin.
It’s always good to be on the lookout for dangerous spiders. Plus, if you (or anyone in your household) is allergic to insect bites, you don’t want them finding their way into your home, either.
Yet, what about the cobwebs left behind after you get rid of spiders in your house?
While cobwebs seem relatively harmless, they’re more hazardous than you think.
Cobwebs attract dust, dirt, debris, and trash. These elements are indoor pollutants that negatively impact the air quality inside your home.
This combination creates a real fire hazard. They’re even more dangerous when they’re close to outlets and electrical equipment. Cobwebs are also home to spider eggs which can lead to a spider infestation in the home.
Discover how to get rid of spider webs, insects, and eggs in this complete guide.
Clean Your House Regularly
The best thing you can do to keep spiders, webs, and eggs out of your home is to keep a clean house.
Start by getting in the habit of cleaning your house more. Choose a designated day, like Sunday, as your weekly cleaning day. Weekends are generally easier, especially if you work a regular 9-5 schedule.
Weekly cleaning takes less time since there is less mess to clean up.
Start by picking up any trash. Empty trash bins, recycling, bathroom wastebaskets, and so forth.
Next, choose your favorite duster and clear away dust and debris settling on surfaces and hard-to-reach places. Spiders love hanging out in undisturbed places.
Spider-friendly spots in the home include:
- Room corners
- Spaces behind dressers and bookcases
- Behind desks
- Areas behind the refrigerator
- Narrow spaces behind the couch
- Under the stairs
- Behind your washer and dryer
The best way to keep spiders at bay is to keep the above areas tidy. The more clutter present in your home, the more opportunities for spiders to hide.
The kitchen is another spider hot spot. Remember to clean up meal leftovers and avoid leaving food on the counter.
Clean and Organize Your Basement and Attic
The next space to tackle is your basement. This area is a haven for spiders, eggs, and webs. Just take a look at your furnace, and you’ll likely find it covered in cobwebs if you haven’t cleaned it in a while.
If you keep a washer and dryer in your basement, dust thoroughly behind those units. Check under the stairs for webs and eggs. You’ll also find them hiding behind storage boxes, dark corners, and under workshop tables.
Sweep the floor and collect all debris to prevent them from attaching to cobwebs.
Attics are another hotspot for spiders.
Give your attic a thorough dusting and sweeping. Clean the windows and sills, wiping away any old, dead cobwebs. Dust any storage boxes too and check behind them for more spiders and webs.
You should also rearrange your boxes to make them less friendly to spiders. Do this in your basement, as well.
Consider installing shelves in your basement and attic. Standalone shelves also work. Consolidate as many items as possible to cut down on boxes too.
When you’re done cleaning, place spider traps in areas that attract spiders. Place traps behind HVAC units, under the stairs, behind cardboard boxes, and under basin sinks to prevent another infestation. You can also put spider traps in your kitchen behind the fridge and under the sink.
Tidy Up Garden Sheds and Garages
Your next step is to clean and organize your outdoor garage. If you have a small garden shed, tidy that up, as well. These two areas attract a lot of spiders and webs.
Spiders particularly love cramped, cluttered, and dusty garages. Garages with exposed ceiling work, like exposed panels and pipes, are an ideal environment for spiders and webs to thrive.
First clean out your garage, starting with a huge decluttering. Throw away broken items and donate objects you don’t need.
Once your garage is cleared out, thoroughly sweep the floors and all corners. You can use a broom to remove spider webs from the ceiling and dark corners. Place spider traps in areas that attract the most spiders and webs.
Do the same with your garden shed. Dust and sweep the floor, removing cobwebs in the process. Also, wipe down your garden equipment with a cloth to remove any old webs.
Remember to wipe down cardboard boxes and old items stored in your garage before bringing them into the home. That’s one way spiders can enter the home.
Consider using an alternative to cardboard boxes for storing items. For example, plastic storage boxes with lids don’t attract as much moisture and dust as cardboard, so they’re not as conducive to spider webs. They’re also easier to wipe down.
Spiders do something called “ballooning” which allows them to spin webs in the air without having to attach them to anything. So, beware, a spider can do this even after you brush them off your storage boxes once inside.
How to Prevent Spiders from Sneaking into the Home
Attaching themselves to storage boxes isn’t the only way spiders sneak into the home. They love making their way through openings in the house.
Your next step is to look for any openings a spider can wiggle its way through. Spiders come in a range of sizes, so look for cracks big and small.
Look for cracks in the following places:
- Wall materials
- Siding
- Foundation
- Windows and sills
- Flooring
Is there any roofing damage?
Patch those problems up right away to avoid a spider infestation. Spiders can make their way through openings in your roof and attic.
Seal up any openings to prevent more spiders from coming into your home. Seal your windows, install door draft stoppers, and repair siding damage.
Add screens to your windows and doors. Screens add an extra layer of protection from spiders. Routinely check your screen for any holes or tears that can attract spiders.
Next, clean out your rain gutters.
These become full of leaves, debris, and harmful pests. Good siding is really important here. Consider a total vinyl replacement if your wood siding is falling apart.
Do you have a porch or deck?
Spiders love hiding out under these spaces too.
Clean thoroughly under your outdoor stairs, deck, and backyard porch areas. Look for foundation and siding cracks around these areas as well.
Members of your household can also attract spiders into the home. Sneaky spiders can easily attach themselves to shoes and jackets. Place floor mats on both sides of your doors so that people can wipe their shoe soles before they come into the home.
Spiders feed on insects which is a good thing if you want to keep other types of insects from coming into your home. However, if you want to prevent both types of pests from sneaking into your home, turn off any outdoor lights that can attract insects.
Do you use a fireplace in your home?
Spiders can easily attach themselves to firewood. Check your logs for any spiders and webs before placing them in the fireplace.
The fireplace itself is also a hotspot for spiders. Remember to remove old wood and keep the area clean. You can always install a spider trap in the fireplace when you’re not using it.
How to Get Rid of Spiders, Webs, and Eggs
Preventative measures are essential for keeping spiders out of your home. Remember, traps and repellants are available. You can also buy store-bought solutions for exterminating spiders like sprays and foggers.
When cleaning, consider using vinegar and peppermint oil.
These common pantry items are good for managing spiders. Vinegar is actually a natural spider-repellant! Fill an empty spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar and get into the habit of spraying down surfaces, corners, and hard-to-reach areas that spiders love.
When to Use Pest Control Services
You don’t have to deal with your spider problem alone. Pest control services are always available to help with your spider problem, big or small. You also have the benefit of having trained, experienced, and insured technicians on-site with professional-grade products and equipment.
For example, Prodigy Pest Solutions offers a web away service that uses treated brushes to remove spider webs and eggs. These brushes extend up to 30 feet to clean particularly hard-to-reach areas. Plus, the brush treatment helps prevent spiders from gravitating toward the area once treated.
Booking a web away service saves time, money, and headaches. For example, cleaning and treating a spider-infested garage can take several days on your own. Plus, it’s easy to miss areas that professionals are trained to catch.
Say Goodbye to Spiders, Eggs, and Cobwebs
Are you ready to make your home, garage, and shed spider-free?
Follow the tips in this guide to learn how to get rid of spiders, their eggs, and pesky cobwebs.
Do you want to speed up the process with the help of a professional?
Prodigy Pest Solutions wants to help!
Book our web away service today or contact us right now to learn more about our pest control plans.